Anyone using AA#9 in 38 Super?

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brutus51

brutus51

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Have had great success with #9 in 10mm. Would like to try it with a 124gr XTP in 38 Super but can only find data for 147 grain bullets. Anyone out there using this combo or should I just stick with AA#7?
 
IMO AA#9 is too slow a powder for the 38 Super and Accurate agrees since they don't list data for that combination. I would go no slower that AA#7. Lyman lists AA#9 with only the heaviest bullet they show data for, a 147gr bullet. You are probably correct to stick with AA#7. Is it possible you might like AA#7 for the 10mm to use only 1 powder for both?
 
I do use #7 in my 10mm and it makes great target loads but 13.8gr. of #9 under a Hornady 180gr. XTP provides 1250fps. and stunning accuracy in my pistol. Think I will stick with #7 in the Super. Reason I posted this was to ferret out a bad idea.:uhoh:
 
After doing some reading and exploring, and after looking through all my reloading manuals, AA#7 and especially v-N105 seem to be the powders that produce the best velocities in 38 Super with 124 gr bullets. v-N105 produces 1500 fps from a 5" barrel according to my Lee Manual. I just got my brass. bullets, dies, and v-N105 powder in this weekend. I'll be loading a ladder this week I hope.

I also picked up some AA#7 to play with, but I'm going to start with some really fast stuff.

I can share results when I've chronoed them.
 
Walkalong said:
Yep, and it is optimistic. :)
Click to expand...

Vit says the max load for N105 and a 124 grain Hornady FMJ FP produces 1501 fps from a 5 1/2" barrel. That load produces 1457 fps from my 5" Colt barrel. That sounds about what one might expect from a slightly shorter barrel.
 
fxvr5 said:
That sounds about what one might expect from a slightly shorter barrel.
Click to expand...
Indeed, yes.

I have not tried N-105 in Super yet, even though I have some. In general though, I have found their data, especially the revolver data, to be a bit optimistic. That data sounds right on the money.
 
Ah, I can believe they were a bit optimistic. But even if I hit 1450 that’s enough of a velocity difference for me to appreciate it beyond hot 9mm.

Like I said, I’ll share my results.

If I can’t get them reved up much past 1400, I’ll probably just stick to AA#7.
 
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I just might load up some N-105 myself, just for curiosities sake. The RMR 124 Gr MW would be a good substitute for the Hornady FMJ-FP I would think. Would make a good project for this evening.
 
Walkalong said:
I just might load up some N-105 myself, just for curiosities sake. The RMR 124 Gr MW would be a good substitute for the Hornady FMJ-FP I would think. Would make a good project for this evening.
Click to expand...
The 124 Truncated Cone MWs are what I'm using.
 
Back when I shot IPSC I used W571 or HS7(Same stuff) because I found it before AA7 and they were readily available locally. Sadly they are both discontinued.

AA7 is what most folks I knew wound up loading and it worked well. Nobody liked AA9 and it was long before N105 became available.
 
I loaded up 15 rounds with the RMR 124 Gr TrFP-MW @ 1.275 to 1.280 OAL with 10.0 Grs of N-105 in Starline Super Comp cases with an old nickle plated WSR primer.

So it is conservative according to the Vihtavuori data for the Hornady 124 Gr FMJ-FP @ 1.260 OAL.

I should be able to shoot them tomorrow after work.I have the SA .38 Super in the range bag and I packed up my 586 and some light plinker loads as well.

The powder is about 1/8" from the case mouth and is fairly well compressed, it would be even more so at 1.260 OAL.

RMR 124 Gr TrFP MW & N-105 Pic 1.JPG RMR 124 Gr TrFP MW & N-105 Pic 2.JPG
 
Walkalong said:
I loaded up 15 rounds with the RMR 124 Gr TrFP-MW @ 1.275 to 1.280 OAL with 10.0 Grs of N-105 in Starline Super Comp cases with an old nickle plated WSR primer.

So it is conservative according to the Vihtavuori data for the Hornady 124 Gr FMJ-FP @ 1.260 OAL.

I should be able to shoot them tomorrow after work.I have the SA .38 Super in the range bag and I packed up my 586 and some light plinker loads as well.

The powder is about 1/8" from the case mouth and is fairly well compressed, it would be even more so at 1.260 OAL.

View attachment 849507 View attachment 849508
Click to expand...

You don't need a rifle primer for N105. You can use one, but it's not necessary since the published data is within pistol pressure range.

The Supercomp cases usually have a little less capacity than the Remington cases that Vit used. Something to keep in mind.

N105 responds fine to compression. Many loads with N105 are compressed.
 
Cool! I got my dies set tonight. I’m going to go with the recommended 1.26” OAL.

I’m going to start a different thread though. I feel like we are hijacking this one, and I have other questions.
 
fxvr5 said:
You don't need a rifle primer for N105. You can use one, but it's not necessary since the published data is within pistol pressure range.
Click to expand...
True, but since that is what I regularly use on top end and warmish loads, that is what I went with.
fxvr5 said:
N105 responds fine to compression. Many loads with N105 are compressed.
Click to expand...
I am not concerned about it, just noting it. When I did the AA # 9 loads it affected the seater less.
 
An older Accurate PDF showed 11.3 to 12.5 Grs AA #9 with a 124 Gr FMJ @ 1.245 OAL.

The data @fxvr5 linked to shows 11.0 to 12.0 for four different 124 Gr bullets from 1.260 (TMJ-FN to 1.280 (FMJ)

I loaded 15 more with 11.5 Grs AA #9, same cases, primers, bullets @ 1.273 to 1.282 OAL.

I did not touch the seater since it was not a micro top and it ended up with rounds from 1.273 to 1.282 OAL since the AA #9 resisted the seating process less.

11.5 Grs AA #9 .38 Super Comp brass. (RMR 124 Gr TrFP-MW)
RMR 124 Gr TrFP MW & AA #9 Pic 1.JPG


I should be able to shoot both loads after work today.
 
Walk', if the N105 loads prove interesting, one additional test to run might be to see whether the powder compression is such that the rounds "grow" after you pull them off the press. As you likely know, there are highly-compressed 9mm major loads that some users have to shoot within 48 hours of making... because the compressed powder starts pushing the bullet back out and the OAL grows! Maybe save a few and measure them carefully off the press, and then a week or two later.
 
I have experienced that phenomenon. These won't last 24 hours to test. I think they would be OK though, not much compression.
 
It was a balmy 97 degrees and 36% humidity at the range at 4:00 PM. (In the shade of the canopy)

I shot 8 rounds through the chrono at 5 yards with a target at 7 yards. Despite shooting quickly they went into right at an inch. It would have done better if I had tried to shoot a small group, but I was mainly just getting numbers. Looks like it could stand to be bumped up a couple tenths, although I would first shorten them and try 11.5 again before bumping it up.

The primers showed zero signs of pressure, still well rounded on the edges, and the firing pin indent was nice and round with zero signs of primer swipe.

Hi=1314
Lo=1267
Avg=1295
ES=47
SD=15

7-10-2011 @ 4 PM.jpg
 
Thanks for the feedback Walkalong.
I'm following 460shooters other post and would be very interested on hearing your preference between the two powders.
I've never tried VV N105 as I have probably over 20 powders in my inventory and I need to use them up before purchasing more.
Of course if I get so much positive feedback on the VV's I may have to use up some of the less popular powders in the garden.( most were bought during the Obama scare when I couldn't get anything else) Although I've been real happy with Autocomp which was purchased at that time.
 
Since you already have AA #9, I would go with that, it will likely out shoot you. (And me. :))
 
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